9.03.2014

Mayor Michael Nutter's decision to sign legislation protecting women's rights in the workplace is a major step in the right direction, and sends a clear signal that Philadelphia values the quality of life for all its residents. When the announcement came yesterday, I initially thought - this is truly deep women have been at least 50% of the population for eons, yet there are still so many cities out there who relegate them to second class - even third class - citizens when it comes to providing for natural needs.

It speaks volume that not only is the Mayor signing the legislation into law, but that it will take place immediately - ushering in a new era in workplace quality and equality. Kudos to Mayor Nutter, Councilman Oh, and all those who made this legislation a reality.

Stay Blessed &ECLECTICALLY BLACKGloria Dulan-Wilson

Mayor Michael Nutter

New legislation requires employers to accommodate the need of individuals to express breast milk while at work.

Mayor Michael A. Nutter, joined by Councilman David Oh, members of the
Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations (PCHR) and women’s health
advocates, signed into law legislation establishing that it is an
unlawful business practice for an employer with one
or more employees to fail to provide reasonable accommodation for an
individual’s need to express, or to pump, breast milk in a safe,
sanitary, non-bathroom space.

“As
parents, our first priority is to care for our families. This
legislation not only allows mothers to provide vital
nourishment to their babies, but also protects their right to express
breast milk in an appropriate environment without stress or fear,” said
Mayor Nutter. “Together with our Parental Leave policy for City workers,
and our pregnancy accommodation ordinance,
the new policy strengthens our Administration’s commitment to mothers
and families across the city. I want to thank Councilman Oh, the PCHR
and the community advocates for taking up this important issue.”

Bill
No. 130922 will take effect immediately. As defined by the
legislation, a reasonable accommodation includes providing
unpaid break time, or allowing an employee to use paid break time,
mealtime, or both to express breast milk. This legislation applies to
all employers in the City, so long as it does not cause an undue
hardship on an employer.

“The
bill addresses the issue of treating people fairly and on their
merits. It’s a Constitutional right and it’s smart,”
said Councilman David Oh. “Success for women in the workplace is
critical for Philadelphia to have a competitive economy. Women who are
mothers should be able to be successful, happy, and fulfilled in the
workplace.”

Rue Landau, Executive Director of the Philadelphia Human Relations Commission, added,
“This
new law adds essential job protections for working mothers and their
families. Now, women who return to work after childbirth can express
milk at their
jobs in safe, private, sanitary spaces. Couple these new breastfeeding
provisions with the recently enacted law to provide reasonable job
accommodations for pregnant workers, and women are protected at work
from pregnancy through childbirth and breastfeeding.
That’s a huge win for female employees, their families, and
Philadelphia’s economy.”

Philadelphia is now added to states that protect women's rights in the workplace

JoAnne
Fischer, Executive Director of the Maternity Care Coalition, said, “We
are delighted with this legislation.
Despite the fact that the health benefits of breastfeeding to both mom
and baby are well documented, MCC hears countless accounts of working
mothers given inadequate break times, lack of private space or even
being forced to pump their milk in bathrooms. It
is a breakthrough for the rights of working parents that the City of
Philadelphia now considers it a requirement to provide support to
breastfeeding moms who are a valuable and productive part of the city’s
workforce.”

“GSK
creates and supports a vibrant working environment with accommodations
that help working mothers successfully transition
back to work and integrate their lives,” said Letizia Amadini Lane,
Vice President, Employee Value Proposition at GSK. “For example, the
lactation rooms we have provided for more than 15 years enable our
employees to do the right thing for their children
while continuing to be leaders in the workforce.”

Those who reside in the 26 other states in the US that have not provided for breastfeeding moms should be noting this as election time comes near. Motherhood is a special phenomenon that is an integral part of humanity - but has been treated as though it was some sort of curse for eons. In point of fact, while no one gets here without a mother, the luxury of being a stay at home mom is not always possible for low and moderate income families. Providing them the accommodations that make it possible for them to be both good parents and good employees is essential as we progress into the twenty first century. Those legislators who deny this very important right have no business representing citizens, many, if not most, of whom are women.